Slice Literary Writers’ Conference Scholarships

The MWPA is thrilled to announce that in collaboration with Slice Literary, we will offer three full scholarships—in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—to MWPA members to attend the2018 Slice Literary Writers’ Conference in downtown Brooklyn, New York on September 8 and 9, 2018.

The conference’s panels and workshops will cover topics from the craft of writing (plotting, dialogue, characterization, poetry, and more) to the business of writing (pitch letters, landing a book deal, and beyond). Top editors, agents, and authors will discuss crucial steps to help launch a writer’s career.

All three scholarships include:

• Fees for both days of the 2018 Slice Literary Writers’ Conference
• The option for two one-on-one editor/agent meetings: “Ask (Almost) Anything” and “Quick Pitch.”
• A $250 cash honorarium
• The scholarship (valued at roughly $800) does not include travel and lodging.

GUIDELINES

The scholarships are open to all current MWPA members.

There is no application fee.

The scholarships will be awarded based on a mix of a writing sample, demonstrated dedication to writing, and financial need.

SLICE LITERARY WRITERS’ CONFERENCE

Each year, Slice Literary convenes some of the country’s top editors, agents, and authors for a Brooklyn weekend of panels and talks about the writing life. Read more about the annual conference HERE.

Slice Literary is the publisher of SLICE magazine. Read more about the biannual journal of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, and more HERE.

ONE-ON-ONE EDITOR/AGENT MEETINGS

Ask (Almost) Anything: This session is for writers who are early or mid-way through their project and struggling with next steps. It’s a chance to have a candid conversation with an agent or editor about the issues that are slowing you down. Ask questions about your writing process, smart steps for revisions, whether they think your project has commercial potential, and anything else related to finishing and publishing your book. Note that this is not the time to ask whether the agent or editor is interested in representing or publishing your work. Rather, think of it as a coffee date with a friend who happens to know a lot about book publishing (there will actually be coffee). Vent your writing frustrations, ask questions, and glean advice as you work toward reaching the next stage of your project. Agents and editors will not read a writing sample but you have the option to submit a one-page letter with your application that explains your project and the issues you would like to discuss.

Quick Pitch: This level is for writers who feel ready to pitch their project to prospective agents. It’s a chance to discuss your book’s overall premise and receive feedback on your query letter and synopsis. Also use this opportunity to ask questions about things you’ve struggled with as you prepare your project for publication. Agents will read your query letter and synopsis in advance and offer feedback during your session. If you have not yet written a query letter, a brief summary of the project will suffice. You may be asked to send your full manuscript after the session if the agent feels it could be a good match for their list. Please do not be discouraged if you are not asked to submit the full manuscript. While the project may not be right for the particular agent with whom you are meeting, they will still be able to offer valuable advice based on their industry experience.